03/08/12

They sell their righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes

Amos 2:6 - Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes;


There are many people who are very particular about keeping their principles even if it calls to hurt another person but when money or property or riches of the world come between them and their principles then they give their principles a holiday.

In today's message the Lord is telling us of the things that He hates about His people, their love for the riches of the world which is so much so that they twist principles or take the side path in their righteous walk.

In the Old Testament the Lord did give a few tips on how a person can live a righteous life but throughout the Bible there is no complete set of instructions what one should do or not do in their personal life. The only option to all of us is to have a relationship with the Holy Spirit Who will guide them to all things including what to do or not to do. The Law of God now does not limit to those few commandments given in the Bible but what the Spirit of God instructs us (this will never go against those given in the Bible for God never changes or goes against His own Word).

Silver, like I put in my previous messages symbolizes worldly riches and gold symbolizes Spiritual riches. Without going deep into the first part of today's message which can only be understood through Bible Numerics and Image study, the Lord speaks of those transgressions which man does against Him which they think is worldly. The sin of compromising one's righteous way of life for the riches of the world is a transgression against the Lord and not a worldly sin.

Another important aspect the Lord opens our eyes to, is the sin against the poor. The Lord is a merciful God and He shows mercy to the poor and we who are called to be His people are also required to imitate Him. Thus we who claim to be His people need to show mercy to the poor by supporting them in their needs.

What the Lord hates about His people is the way they make a show about helping the poor or being merciful while they are honestly far from it. There is a big difference between a poor man giving a 100 and a rich man giving a 100 to the poor. When we give we are always required to give according to the measured we have and not according to what the world thinks. If we are blessed more and we give a 100 the world may admire us for having a good heart but not the Lord.

There are people who put a 100 for charity and will spend a larger amount advertising the 100 they gave. These people cover up their sinful life with a false godliness and these are the people the Lord states as those who sell the poor for a pair of shoes.

We as Christians are called to give according to what the Lord has blessed us, not according to the world's measure. Let us also not fornicate after the lust of our carnal hearts and compromise with living a true Christian life.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, the world does not know You therefore You came as man Jesus Christ so that man can know You. Today we who call ourselves Christian - followers of Christ are supposed to represent You to this world and we have been doing a pretty bad job of it. Lord we pray as You are blessing us more and more, guard our hearts that we not forget the hand that feeds us and go the worldly way of vanity. That we walk according to your Spirit and overcome our carnal flesh...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Amos 2:6-8
6 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes;
7 That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek: and a man and his father will go in unto the same maid, to profane my holy name:
8 And they lay themselves down upon clothes laid to pledge by every altar, and they drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their god.

Mark 12:41-44
41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)